Monthly Archives: July 2013

Bendigo’s new hospital project is attracting the attention of diverse businesses and tradespeople from across Australia, as well as enormous interest from local companies and workers.

The online listing system being used to register supplier expressions of interest for the project, ICN Gateway, has had 587 registrations for consideration for various parts of the project.

Health Minister David Davis said interest has come from every state of Australia, New Zealand and even a small number of international businesses in China and Europe.

“Registrations range from large well-known companies to tradespeople who were born in Bendigo but are now working interstate and would like to come back to be part of the project,” Mr Davis said.

The registrations represent almost every relevant Industry sector, including trades, manufacturers, consultants, service providers, accommodation providers and professional services, hoping to secure a role either during the construction or operational phases of the new hospital.

“We expect the project to create more than 770 construction industry and supply chain jobs, providing enormous flow-on benefits for the community. At least 300 of these jobs will be maintained for at least three years during the peak construction period for the hospital,” Mr Davis said.

“Meanwhile, more than 160 professionals and support staff, including engineers, medical systems planners, interior designers and Bendigo Health staff, are working intensively to finalise the many complex design and implementation specifications that will bring to life the Victorian Coalition Government’s vision of a world-class hospital.

“As part of the bidding process for the project, the Coalition Government set out extensive and detailed requirements for a state-of-the-art facility and the Exemplar consortium responded.

“The flexibility in the draft design parameters of the new hospital allowed Exemplar to come up with a best value and innovative design response, which is why they were awarded the project.

“They are now ensuring that every aspect of the design is tightly specified to facilitate build efficiency, best practice management, quality control and a world-class result from the outset of construction.”

“Nearly 100 Bendigo Health staff are participating in the design process over the next 14 months, in addition to their ‘day job’ at the hospital. These staff are from all backgrounds including doctors, surgeons, nurses, physicists, cleaners, engineers, clerks and so on,” Mr Davis said.

The hospital, which is due for completion at the end of 2016, is the largest hospital development undertaken in regional Australia, and will deliver better health outcomes for families in Bendigo, the Loddon-Mallee region and northern Victoria.

With a total project value of more than $1 billion over 20 years, there will be significant flow on benefits to Bendigo businesses and the local community.

An information session for local business and tradespeople will be held in Bendigo in mid-August and Lend Lease will explain the opportunities that are arising from the project and explain how to register for consideration.

Stage 2 of the Bendigo Hospital Project includes the construction of a 65 metre, 2 storey, air link bridge over Arnold Street. This will link the helipad and car park, which is currently under construction, with the new hospital building. more »